“Heather, you work hard at trying not to work.” This was Mom’s famous saying. She was mystified by some of the decisions I made which were clearly rooted in laziness. One night in middle school, I slept on the floor so I would not have to make my bed in the morning. If memory serves, I only tried that once. ~smile~ I would ignore the proper way of completing math problems and figure out another path to the correct answer. Learning the formula would have taken less time, but in true Heather fashion, I worked hard at trying not to work. Laziness has most definitely been my drug of choice … [Read more...]
A Soft Answer Turns Away Wrath (Experience Wisdom from Proverbs, Part 2)
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1, ESV) My mom used to quote this verse to me often. Apparently, I had a problem with soft answers. ~smile~ Even now, I find myself jumping on the defensive when I need to step back, breathe deeply, release my pride, and answer calmly. When is the last time you and your special someone came to verbal blows with each other? Was your first thought, “A soft answer turns away wrath”? Probably not. Although, if you quote this to yourself enough, maybe it will be at the forefront of your mind the next time you feel … [Read more...]
Iron Sharpens Iron – Sanctification in Relationships (Experience Wisdom from Proverbs, Part 1)
“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17, ESV) Eric has faithfully sharpened me. At times, I wanted him to stop and leave me alone; but, he kept right on sharpening! This verse does not speak specifically about marriage, but about relationships in general. Good friends can sharpen us. Family can sharpen us. Anyone with whom we share a God-centered relationship – anyone who speaks the truth into our lives without reservation – sharpens us. In college, some dorm mates of mine posted this verse on their door and it struck me. I have appreciated this short and … [Read more...]
Keeping the Cross at the Center of Your Relationship
Do you ever struggle with forgiveness? Even though you know it’s a command from God and essential to a healthy relationship, does it still feel almost impossible to let go of the anger? Does letting go feel like an admission of defeat or like you’re opening yourself up to be hurt again? Forgiveness is essential; however, it is not something we give easily. It is a struggle. It works against our natural flesh, pride, and selfishness. We want those who have hurt us to pay. I’ve found that on my own, I am powerless to forgive. The only one who can grant me that grace to forgive is … [Read more...]
Looking for Connection in All the Wrong Places
Is it merely love – or deep connections with others that we seek? After all, we can love others without even knowing them. When a family chooses to send money to Compassion International each month so a child can have a better future, they are giving love (assuming they do it with proper motives); but, there is only a slim chance that those children will ever meet their sponsors in person. Is giving money to someone out of love enough to feed their soul? No. Those kids need to be hugged, read to, sung to, played with, and cherished. My desire for all the kids of the world would be a full … [Read more...]
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